Gonzales Leads Charge on $850M Investment to Shield Texas Livestock from Screwworm Threat

AUSTIN, TX — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), whose district encompasses key border communities like Del Rio and Eagle Pass, has spearheaded a major victory for Texas agriculture with today's announcement of an $850 million federal investment to combat the New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic pest threatening livestock, wildlife, and even human health. Gonzales joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in Austin to unveil the funding, which includes up to $750 million for a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg, marking a critical step in his ongoing efforts to protect the state's vital ranching industry.

"This Congress, one of my top priorities has been to strengthen our nation’s preparedness against a potential screwworm outbreak," Gonzales said in a statement. "That includes the construction of a domestic fly production facility, which is a key pillar of my STOP Screwworms Act. Under Secretary Rollins’ leadership of the USDA, we have made incredible strides to eliminate this dangerous parasite and protect our livestock industry. Today’s historic announcement is just further proof that this administration is prioritizing our farmers and ranchers like never before."

The investment, announced amid growing concerns over NWS outbreaks in Central and South America, aims to establish a domestic facility at Moore Airfield Base, an inactive United States Air Force facility taken over by the USDA and located 14 miles northwest of Mission, capable of producing 300 million sterile flies per week. These flies are essential for eradication efforts, as they mate with wild females to prevent reproduction, ultimately collapsing pest populations. An additional allocation will support research into containment and treatment methods. Previously, the USDA had designated the site as a dispersal facility, set for completion by year's end, but this expanded commitment addresses a long-standing gap in U.S. production capacity.

Gonzales' advocacy has been instrumental in advancing these measures. In May, he introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act alongside Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. The legislation, which calls for funding a U.S.-based sterile fly facility, has garnered endorsements from major organizations including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Livestock Marketing Association, Texas Farm Bureau, and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA).

Through his position on the House Appropriations Committee, Gonzales also secured a provision in the agriculture budget that doubled initial funding for screwworm eradication from $5.5 million to $10 million. In March, he led a bipartisan letter signed by 43 colleagues, including members of the House Agriculture Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, urging the USDA to expand its efforts. Additionally, Gonzales wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling for interagency coordination to fast-track approvals for anti-parasitic treatments for livestock.

The announcement drew praise from Texas ranchers and industry leaders, who have long highlighted the economic risks posed by NWS. The pest, endemic in regions south of the U.S. border, inflicts severe wounds on animals that can lead to death if untreated. While treatments exist, sterile fly release remains the only proven eradication method. The world's sole existing facility, in Pacora, Panama, operates at full capacity with just 115 million flies per week—far short of what's needed to push back infestations to the Darién Gap.

TSCRA President Carl Ray Polk Jr., who attended the event, emphasized the investment's importance. "Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association cannot overstate the significance of funding a domestic sterile fly production facility," Polk said. "Thank you to Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration for spearheading this effort, and thank you Governor Abbott and the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team for continually positioning Texas for success against the threat of NWS."

Polk added that TSCRA has advocated for increased sterile fly production to safeguard agriculture, wildlife, and public health, noting the U.S. once operated a facility in Chiapas, Mexico, during a 1960s outbreak but closed it afterward.

Today's development builds on a June announcement where Gonzales and Rollins outlined a five-pronged USDA plan to detect, control, and eliminate NWS. For ranchers in Gonzales' district, where border crossings and trade heighten vulnerability to pests, the facility represents a proactive defense against potential outbreaks that could devastate local economies.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, a 148-year-old trade group and the largest livestock organization in the state, represents over 28,000 members dedicated to beef production and natural resource stewardship. For more information, visit tscra.org.